by pebble/scifipony
Fandom: Psych
Characters: Shawn Spencer, Burton Guster
Words: 724
Tags: Humor, Friendship, Psychic!Shawn
Warnings: None
Author's Notes: Originally posted to Tumblr on 10/31/2024, written for the Octoberfics challenge. Archived here on 1/9/2025.
“I told you this was a bad idea.”
“Gus, hold the flashlight steady.”
“I am holding it steady.”
“Oh, yes, I can see that. Steady as a rock. It must be an earthquake making the beam shake uncontrollably like that.”
Halting in his tracks, Gus whipped around to level a glare at him. The flashlight beam hit Shawn square in the eyes, forcing him to squint against the outrageously bright light. Why Gus had insisted on getting the flashlight from a tactical supplies outlet, Shawn would never know.
“Shut up, Shawn. You’re the one who insisted on investigating inside a haunted house at night. And what were my two conditions for agreeing?”
Shawn rolled his eyes. Ticking them off on his fingers, he recited, “You walk in front so the ghosts eat me first, and you hold the flashlight.”
“That’s right.”
“It’s not even a haunted house,” Shawn said.
“Are you kidding? Look at this place. It might as well have a sign out front saying ‘ghosts live here’. This place is beyond spooky.”
“Really? Hey, I’m the one who is psychic here, Gus. And I think I’d see them if we were surrounded by hungry spirits right now. Not every big old house in the woods is haunted.”
“Maybe not, but the probability for paranormal activity goes way up.”
“See, I think you’re just making that up.”
“It’s a fact that spirits prefer more isolated locations. Plus, the older the house, the more likelihood someone died violently there. It’s scientific, Shawn.”
“I really don’t think it is,” Shawn said, barely holding back a laugh.
The wind outside gusted suddenly, causing a rattle to reverberate through the rotting structure. Eyes widening in panic, Gus looked about three seconds from bolting out the door.
“Relax, it’s the wind,” Shawn reassured him. “C’mon, let’s get moving. The sooner we find that evidence, the sooner we get to rub it in Lassie’s face. And you get to go home to cuddle up in your snuggie on the couch.”
“Hey!” Gus exclaimed indignantly. “Those things are very therapeutic. Everyone knows that.” Taking a deep breath, he seemed to steel his resolve as he turned back towards the interior of the house. “Alright, fine. But you owe me for this. You know how I feel about messing with spirits.”
Shawn smiled, patting his friend on the back as they continued their investigation. “And you’re facing your fears admirably, buddy. So proud of you.”
“Yeah, yeah. But you’d better tell me the second you see any sign of ghosts in here. I want plenty of time to get a headstart escaping this place.”
“I already said I’d keep an eye out.”
Gus glanced over his shoulder, a scowl visible in the glow from his flashlight. “I mean it, Shawn.”
Shawn held up his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. Yeesh, that’s the last time I let you watch The Frighteners before an investigation.”
Gus merely clicked his tongue at him and marched through the next doorway in their path.
Hanging back for a second, Shawn waited until Gus was out of sight before side-whispering, “Hey, thanks again for agreeing to not mess with my friend. As you can see, he’s a bit of a worrier, and I’m not sure his big gooey heart can take any added stress.”
Beside him, the almost invisible specter smiled in amusement. “No problem. Honestly, simply watching the two of you is already more entertainment than I’ve had in the last thirty years. But are you sure you don’t want me to spook him just a little bit?”
“Nah,” Shawn shook his head. “This is a pretty big deal for him. I think it’s important he doesn’t end the night screaming like a little girl.”
The ghost’s expression softened. “You’re a good friend.”
Shawn shrugged. “I figured I’d make up for it by gluing his pens to his desk later.”
From the next room, Gus shouted out suddenly, “Shawn! I know you didn’t leave me here all alone. Because you are a dead man walking if you did.”
Shawn grinned and waved a quick farewell to the spirit before running to catch up with his friend. “And here I thought you were trying to avoid having ghosts on this investigation. If you kill me, you know I’ll only come back to haunt you.”
“Shut up.”
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